He moves into the role after seven years as group Finance Director having previously worked for 13 years in audit and corporate fnance at Cambridge-based accountancy firms.

During Ian’s tenure as group Finance Director, Ridgeons was named in The Sunday Time Profit Track 100, a league table of Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing profits. He also led the acquisition of three Ridgeons branches, as well as serving a year as operations director.

Speaking about his new role, Ian said: “It’s a real privilege to be appointed to this role at such an important time for Ridgeon Group. I am determined to build on our strong foundations by focussing on developing our core merchant business, which continues to thrive and grow. We are also looking to the future and this is underlined by Ridgeons’ upcoming online relaunch and the rapid expansion of PlumbStock and Anglia Tool Centre across the region.

“We are proud of our continued heritage as an independent, family-owned business and are excited about the potential for further growth.”

Gordon Ridgeon, Director at Ridgeon Group, added: “We are delighted to appoint Ian to the position of CEO. We are confident that his vision for the future direction of Ridgeons retains the core objectives of our business – to make it easier for our customers to do business and a commitment to our customers, employees, suppliers, business partners and the local communities in which we live and trade.”